As Viewed From Afar
Chapter Two
At almost exactly 7:30, I leave my apartment building, sipping my coffee, and thinking about random things. The energy crisis. My brother Emmett's new girlfriend. How Esmé wants me to find a girlfriend. But after the Tanya incident, no way. I'm not going to get my heart broken again. I notice the way women stare at me, but I don't stare back. No girl is worth it.
I thought I loved her, I truly did. But after finding her fucking my best friend James after coming home early from a business trip, I found that I did not, in fact love her. Nor was I particularly fond of James after that either. It hurt for a long time, but know, I'm healed and jaded. I know better than to 'love' again. She was my first, and I'm sure she'll be my last. I can't picture myself settling with a family, and the thought of women is loath to me. It's a conundrum though; Esmé so desperately wants to see me happy. And I hate to disappoint her. After a few minutes walk and some more philosophical thinking, I reach work.
I open the large plate-glass doors to Cullen and Co. Medical, holding them for the petite brunette who always arrives just after me. She doesn't glance my way. We enter the elevator, and I run my hands through my hair in frustration. The lawsuit from Zanitech is going to be a problem today. How is it our damn fault that a nurse stole half the shipment?
I pull out my iPhone, trying to distract myself when I hear a soft thump and the swoosh of scattering papers. The brunette drops to her knees, cursing under her breath, and starts sweeping files and folders toward her, shoving them in the offending bag. I drop, too, and reach for an outlying manila folder. I don't notice her hand reaching as well. She touches me, and an electric shock shoots up my arm. I pull back, surprised. How could she have such an effect on me? It must be static electricity. I don't even know the woman.
She mumbles an apology in a soft voice, and she's very, very close to me. Too close. I can see the tops of her breasts and her black lace bra from the gap in her blouse. I blush, murmuring, "Not a problem," And we stand back up. She folds herself into a tiny corner of the elevator, staring at the doors. Who is this woman? She's wearing black heels and a black skirt and blouse. I start noticing her in a different way. She has long, wavy, shiny dark brown hair, and a perfect hourglass figure. Her skirt is indecently short at just above the knee, and those miles of creamy skin call to me. Her blouse is much too tight, the buttons straining over her chest, and it's thin enough to show me the shadow of her black bra.
What is this woman doing to me? I've never spoken to her before in my life! I stare at her, taking in all her perfection. How could I not see her before? It's like she was invisible! I stare at her, and her deep chocolate eyes flicker over to me. She sees me staring, and flushes a little, hugging her bag a little tighter. I can't take my eyes off of her. However, I'm pulled out of my reverie by a quite bell sounding, indicating we've reached our floor.
The woman stumbles out, tripping forward, and sticks her arms out to catch her fall, but I unconsciously lunge forward, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her up to me. She blushes a deep scarlet, her breasts pressed against my chest, our hips flush, and the floral scent about her pulls me in. Remembering that I don't know her, and that we were in a public place, where we both worked every day, I let go of her quickly.
"Excuse me, Miss…?" I still don't know her name."Bella," She responds, flushing deeply. Even her name is beautiful. "May I escort you to your office? You seem a little unsteady," I offer.
"Thank you," She laughs, a beautiful, sweet chiming laugh, finding something in that funny. "I'm Miss Alice's secretary," Poor thing. Like me, stuck with Alice all day long. I take her arm, the shockwaves shooting up my arm again at the contact. She flinches a little; does she feel it too? I lead her to the tiny cubicle outside Alice's office, and the many women around us peep over the edges of cubicles, staring. Though many had tried, I refused to date anyone I worked with. Not only did I simply not date, I knew it would be very difficult to see an ex on a daily basis, and to have to treat them with civility.
To see me with someone, especially this quiet, clumsy girl must seem a shock. I turned down even Lauren, with her long, white-blond hair, and slim figure. I found her shallow and uninteresting. I leave Bella at her office, and head back to mine. I'm supposed to be working on the Zanitech case, but I can't stop thinking about that girl. I could simply call her in; tell her I need to have her work on something. Once inside, I would push her up against the wall, rip open that too-tight blouse, pull up that too short skirt. Kiss her like there's no tomorrow. Kinky sex on my desk…
What the hell am I thinking?!?! I don't know anything about this girl except that she's gorgeous, clumsy, and is called Bella. And maybe one other thing.
I'm in love with her.
Bit of a cliffy! Edward's POV, obviously. I tried to get the "perfect articulation" thing right; I don't really know how well I did. Sorry this is a bit shorter. I just had to end it there. Please, please review! The more I get, the faster I write!
Lurve and Kisses,
M
